Extension hitch



May 12, 1925. 1,537,213

W. J. WYLIE EXTENSION HITCH Filed May 2, 1924 a6 i zgj. f

Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES 7 WILLIAM JEROME WYLIE, OF COLUIVIBIA, MISSISSIPPI.

nzrrnnsion nrron.

Application filed M ay 2, 1924-. Serial No, 710,610.

To all whom it may con-cm:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM Jinioiin VVYLIE, a citizen of the United States, ie siding at Columbia, in the county of Marion and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Extension Hitch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention aims to providenovel means whereby a tractor may be run out of a hog or bad place in a road, a tow line being paid off a reel on the tractor, the load then being pulled out of the bog by the tow line, the tow line being taken up automatically, and the load finally being coupled up again, directly with the tractor, to be hauled in the custoinary'way. 1

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that kind to which the invention appertainsn V Although a preferred form of the invention has been shown, it will be understood that a mechanic, working within the scope of what isclaimed', may make such changes as his skill may suggest, without departing from the spirit of the invention or placing the utility of the device in jeopardy.

In the drawings :Figure 1 shows in side elevation, aportion of-a tractor whereunto the device forming the subject matter of this application has been applied;vFigure 2 shows the guide in perspective;,F1gure 3 is a perspective wherein one of the drumsupported brackets appears; Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the structure delineated in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the drum; Figure 6 is a transverse section taken through a part of the drum; Figure 7 is an end elevation of the drum and attendant parts.

The numeral 1 designates the difierential casing of a tractor, the members 2 of the axle housing being connected at their inner ends, by securing elements 3, to the casing 1. A bracket 4; is shown and has a foot 5 attached by securing devices 6 to the diiferential casing 1. The seat of the tractor apears at 7. The load to bedrawn embodies a draft device 8 of any desired construction. The draft device 8 of the load is connected to the bracket a of thetractor in any desired way, perhaps by a bail 9 on the draft device 8, interengaged with a clevis 10 secured to the bracket 4 of the tractor by a draw pin 11 or other removable attaching member. The parts hereinbefore described are common, and no novelty is claimed. for them, 'saving in so far as they may enter into patentable combination with parts here inafter described.

In carrying out the invention, bearings 12 and 14 are provided. the bearings being in the form of plates having openings15 adapted to receive certain of the securing elements 3 which attach the members 2 of the axle housing to the differential casing 1. It now develops that the securing ele ,ments 3 are given an added function, since they serve to connect the bearings with the differential casing and render it unnecessary for the builder to provide additional means for holding the members 12 in place' A shaft 16 extends between the bearings 12 1 I and 1 1 and isheld-at 17 against rotation therein.

A drum or reel 18 is mounted for rotation on the shaft 16, between the bearings 12 and 1 1. The drum 18 comprises a body 19, a solid head 20 and a hollow head 21, the head 20 being supplied in its outer surface with seats 22, adapted to coact with a locking device on the bearing 1 the locking device being, if desired, in the form of a spring latch 23 secured at 24: to the bearing 14 and provided with a finger 25 adapted to pass through an opening 26 in the bearing 14 and to engage with any of the seats 22 of the drum 18, to hold the drum against rotation, at the will of an operator. Within the hollow'head 21' of the drum 18 is located a torsionspring 27, one end of which is connected at 28 to the head 21 of the drum, the other end of which is connected at 29 to the tired shaft 16. The hollow head 21 is closed by a cap 30 held on the head by securing devices 31.

The device comprises an approximately U-shaped guide 32, shown in Figure 2. This guide may be made in any desired way, but it will be expedient to form the guide out of a single bar of metal fashioned into arms 3 and an intermediate portion 34: connecting the arms, the intermediate portion of the guide being twisted upon itself to form an eye 35, the ends of the arms 33 being bent to fashion sockets 36. The sockets 36 abut against the foot 5 of the bracket 4 and the guide 32 is disposed in an approximately 'horizontal position,between the bracket a 110 and the drum 18. Here let it be observed that the securing devices 6 which connect the foot 5 of the bracket 4 to the differential Cal using 1, exercise a two-fold ollii e, since they serve as means for connecting both the bracket at and the guide 32- with the differential casing l.

The numeral 3? marks a tow line, such as a wire cable, the tow line being wound at 38 about the body 19 ot' the drum 18 and being connected by means ot an anchor Iii) with the head 21 of the drum, or with anv other accessible part of the drum. The tow line 37, extending downwardly from the drum l8, passes slidablr this ;h the eye 3;; of the guide and is connecter at et-O, in an conrenient way, to the bail 9, or lo some other portion of the load which the tractor is pulling.

Let it be supposed that the tractor and the.

load approa h bog or other place where transportation is dillicull. Then the operator pulls the draw pin 11, thus setting the load free from the tractor, the load remaining at rest, and the tractor proceeding on its way to solid ground. Under such circunr stances, the tow line 37 pays otl the drum 1%, and the spring 2'? is put under tors. the drum 18 rotating, since the finger 25 on the latch is not now engaged with any of the seats 22 of the drum. When the tractor has reached firm ground, the drum 18 is held against rotation by the latch mechanism 232522, and the tractor drags the load to solid ground by means of the tow line 37. The latch mechanism 232522 is CllS0l1- gaged, thus setting; the drum 18 free, and the tractor is backed up, the spring 27 automatically reeling the, tow line 87 on the drum, as shown at 88. Finall the draw pin 11 is inserted again, to couple the load with the tractor directly, and the train then proceeds upon its way.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a drum, means for mounting the drum for rotation on a tractor, a guide, means for mounting the guide on a tractor, a tow line slidable in the guide and wound about the drum, and spring means for rotating the drum to wind the tow line thereon 2. In a device of the class described, a bearing, means for mounting the bearing on a tractor, a drum journaled on the bearing, a latch on the bearing and forming a releasable connection between the bearing and the drum, a tow line wound about the drum, and spring means for rotating the drum to wind the tow line thereon when the latch is released from the drum.

The combination with the ditl'erential casing of a tractor, a bracket having means of assembly with a load to be drawn, and a securing element connecting the bracket with the casing, of a guide held by the securing element, a tow line rove through the guide, and a drum supported for rotation on the tractor, the tow line being wound about the drum.

t. The combination with the differential casing of a tractor, an axle housing, a first securing element connecting the housing to the casing, a bracket having means of assembly with a load to be drawn, and a second securing clement connecting the bracket with the casing", of a bearing held by the first securing element, a drum supported for rotation on the bearing, av guide held by the second securing element, and a tow line rovc through the guide and wound about the drum.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

YVILLIAM JEROME lVYLIE. 

